U.S. patent number 7,184,258 [Application Number 10/968,904] was granted by the patent office on 2007-02-27 for socket power supply control structure.
Invention is credited to Li-Chun Lai.
United States Patent |
7,184,258 |
Lai |
February 27, 2007 |
Socket power supply control structure
Abstract
A socket power supply control structure is controlled by a
controller in three stages, e.g. "power on," "power off", and
"power source disconnected". By so, unauthorized use of outlet
supplying power for working various electrical appliances such as
television computer, and microwave oven, by innocent children can
be effectively avoided so as to protect their health of eyes and
electric safety.
Inventors: |
Lai; Li-Chun (Panciao City,
Taipei, TW) |
Family
ID: |
35040869 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/968,904 |
Filed: |
October 21, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20060039102 A1 |
Feb 23, 2006 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 20, 2004 [CN] |
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2004 2 0703723 U |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
361/641; 200/51R;
439/687 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/7036 (20130101); H01H 9/0228 (20130101); H01H
27/00 (20130101); H01R 13/6397 (20130101); H01R
31/065 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H02B
1/26 (20060101); H01R 13/502 (20060101); H01R
13/70 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;200/51R,44,42 ;361/641
;439/133,455,465,620.1,52 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Thompson; Greg
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A socket power supply control structure, comprising: a lower
housing and an upper housing, wherein the lower housing has a
first, a second, and a third accommodation spaces, and an enclosure
hinged to one side of the second and the third accommodation spaces
so as to turn open or close the lower housing, the enclosure has an
insertion hole formed on an end surface near the first
accommodation space while has an opening on the other side, wherein
the upper housing has a sleeve on a top surface, the sleeve has an
opening formed on bottom, a breach is formed at one side of the
upper housing, and a sliding way is formed between the sleeve and
the breach; a controller including a key blot, a set sleeve, and a
base box, wherein the key bolt is installed in the set sleeve to
keep top of the key bolt flush with the set sleeve so as to allow
insertion of a switching member, whereas the bottom end of the key
bolt is extended to reach an opening of the set sleeve, the set
sleeve is engaged to the bottom of the upper housing so as to cover
the sleeve of the upper housing over the bottom surface thereof,
thereby the key bolt and the set sleeve are tightly conjoined to
expose an insertion hole as the set sleeve turns together with the
key bolt; a cap nut having a controlling pillar formed around the
middle section of the set sleeve, wherein the controlling pillar is
extended downwards from the bottom of the cap nut and is turnable
together with the insertion hole, the controlling pillar is further
engaged to the base box having a change over switch equipped at the
middle section thereof, and the change over switch is carried out
by the controlling pillar, by settling the base box combined to the
controller in the first accommodation space and covering the upper
housing along with assembled key bolt and set sleeve on the first
accommodation space so as to allow the controlling pillar capable
to make switching of the change over switch through aligning the
breach to the insertion hole; a plug with extension cord disposed
in the first accommodation space at one side distantly apart from
the second accommodation space with a live wire thereof connected
to one of the terminals of the change over switch installed in the
base box; and a plug and socket connector disposed between the
first and the second accommodation spaces and connected to the
other terminal of the change over switch so as to receive power
from the plug with extension cord, and facing a source side socket
thereof to the second accommodation space, by way of turning the
key bolt with the switching member, the set sleeve, the controlling
pillar and the cap nut are actuated to turn in order and determined
whether the enclosure is removed or not, and the plug and socket
connector is to be energized or not thereby performing a
multi-stage controlling mode.
2. The socket power supply control structure as in claim 1, wherein
the key bolt has a stage portion at front end, and two guide
grooves respectively formed at middle and lower sections thereof,
whereas a lower guide groove is emerged out of the opening of the
upper housing, both guide grooves are each equipped with a C-ring
so as to fix the key bolt in the upper housing sleeve, the key bolt
has a screw hole at bottom for screw engaging with the controlling
pillar, the outer surface of the key bolt is encircled with a
collar whose bottom surface is in mate with the stage portion of
the key bolt so as to prevent the stage portion from being slipping
out of the top of the key bolt, a coil spring is wound around the
key bolt with one end fixed to the top edge of the collar, when the
key bolt is inserted into the sleeve of the upper housing and
pierces out of a bottom opening of the sleeve along the lower guide
groove such that the key bolt is fixed stationally in the set
sleeve by the C-ring encircled around the lower guide groove
thereby settling the key bolt in the sleeve of the upper housing,
at this time the other end of the coil spring impresses the bottom
surface of the sleeve so as to support tightly the collar and keep
flush with the top surfaces of the sleeve and the key bolt.
3. The socket power supply control structure as in claim 1, wherein
the third accommodation space is for accommodating an power input
plug of an electrical appliance, and a detention means thereof to
hold the power input plug is provided so as to assure the power
input plug will not be pulled away from the plug and socket
connector accidentally.
4. The socket power supply control structure as in claim 1, wherein
the plug with extension cord is connected to the plug and socket
connector with a front terminal, and has at least one live wire and
one grounding wire emerged from a rear terminal, the live wire is
connected to the change over switch installed in the controller,
while the grounding wire is connected to the plug and socket
connector.
5. The socket power supply control structure as in claim 1, wherein
an indicator lamp is provided on the upper housing to indicate
electrical stage of the plug and socket connector.
6. The socket power supply control structure as in claim 1, wherein
the controller is functional in three stage controlling mode.
7. The socket power supply control structure as in claim 1, wherein
the enclosure has an indentation with a hinge hole formed at each
of two sides, and a hinged block with a through hole is formed at
one side of the second and the third accommodation spaces, by
covering the enclosure on the second and the third accommodation
spaces and inlaying the hinged block in the indentation and
aligning the through hole of the hinged block to both hinge holes
of the hinged block so as to penetrate a hinge pin through the
hinge holes and hinge the enclosure to one side of the lower box
thereby enabling the enclosure to turn on the lower box about the
hinge pin.
8. The socket power supply control structure as in claim 1, wherein
the cap nut is an approximately ellipsoidal cap nut.
9. The socket power supply control structure as in claim 1, wherein
the plug and socket connector is a siamese twin plug and socket
connector.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a socket power supply control
structure, and more particularly, to a power supply outlet for
household electrical appliances enclosed in a housing, and whose
ON/OFF power supply is controlled by a controller in three
stages.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In keeping pace with the economic development and progress in
science, an average family may own several household electrical
appliances such as television sets and computers etc. Now, the
television and computer have already become necessary facilities of
civilization. On the other hand, watching TV or operating the
computer too longer might greatly degrade the eyesight of the user,
especially the children. To avoid such disadvantage, prohibiting
the children to watch TV or operate the computer at home for longer
time is very important. But the problem is that the outlets of the
residential wiring are in energized stage all the time that makes
children easy to turn on these two appliances at any time and keep
them working as long as desired. How will it be ideal for parents
if ON/OFF of the outlets can be controlled properly by some means
so as to limit their children to overuse the television and
computer thereby contributing to health of their eyes!
It is what the reason the inventor has endeavored for years by
continuous research and experimentation attempting to find out the
remedy to rectify the inherent shortcoming of the conventional
residential wiring outlet described above, and at last has
succeeded in coming out with the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is to provide a socket power
supply control structure applicable to control random use of the
household electrical appliances applicable to control random use of
the household electrical appliances such us the television, the
computer, and various heating appliances so as to protect users
form being injured from inappropriate use of such appliances.
Another, the present invention is to provide a controller with an
ability to control the power supply to the household outlet with
three stages, e.g. energized, de-energized, and completely
disconnected from the power source.
The socket power supply control structure of the present invention
includes a lower housing, a controller, an extension cord plug, a
siamese twin plug and socket connector, a latch, an upper housing,
and an enclosure. The lower housing is divided into a first, a
second and a third accommodation spaces. A three stage controller
installed in the first accommodation space has an approximately
ellipsoidal cap nut provided around its middle portion with a key
bolt accompanying with a switching key to turn the cap nut. The
controller is located distantly apart from one side of the second
accommodation space and is connected to a plug with extension cords
so that the controller can get the power supply. The other side of
the controller proximate to the second accommodation space is
connected to a siamese twin plug and socket connector so as to
control ON/Off of the power supply to the plug and socket
connector. The first accommodation space is enclosed by the upper
housing whose top surface being emerged to form key bolt. A drilled
hole is formed on the upper housing near the second accommodation
space. A sliding way is provided on the bottom surface of the upper
housing and is extended out of the end surface where the drilled
hole is formed. The latch whose cross section is configured into an
approximate T shape is provided with a compressed spring fitted on
it for giving restoring force to the latch. The latch is laid in
the sliding way capable of entering the drilled hole and in close
contact with the cap nut to reciprocate along with the movement of
the cap nut. The third accommodation space admits entrance of the
power input plug of the appliance to be inserted into the socket
side of the plug and socket connector. An enclosure is provided to
cover the second and third accommodation spaces, so as to be
turnable on the lower housing, and an insertion hole is provided
nearby the end surface of the first accommodation space, and is
aligned to the drilled hole on the upper housing to communicate
with each other thereby enabling the latch to pierce into the front
insertion hole of the enclosure. With the structure described
above, the three stage controlling mode can be carried out by the
controller with a switching key inserted into the key bolt emerged
out of the upper housing of the controller. The three stages are
respectively a de-energized stage (enclosure can not be open), an
energized stage (enclosure can not be open), and a disconnected
stage (enclosure can be open) for the power supply outlet to the
appliance.
For fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present
invention, reference should be mode to the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
These features and advantages of the present invention will be
fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed
description of the accompanying Drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A to 1C are the exploded views of the socket power supply
control structure of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the whole structure of socket power
supply control structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 2A is a schematic view of the upper housing and the latch;
FIG. 3A is an assembly view of the present invention;
FIG. 3B is an assembly view of the present invention where the
enclosure is open;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic views for illustration of the first
stage controlling mode;
FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic views for illustration of the second
stage controlling mode; and
FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic views for illustration of the third
stage controlling mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The socket power supply control structure of the present invention
comprises a controller 1, a lower housing 2, a plug with extension
cords 3, a siamese twin plug and socket connector 4, an upper
housing 5, a compressed spring 6, an enclosure 7, and a latch
9.
Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, the socket power supply control
structure along with its upper housing are shown, the upper housing
5 has a downwardly disposed sleeve 51 on its top surface and
provided with a bottom opening 511. An indicator lamp 52 is
equipped at one side of the sleeve 51 to indicate if the plug and
socket connector 4 is energized. A breach 53 is formed at one side
of the upper housing 5. A sliding way 54 is formed on the inner
wall surface of the upper housing 5 between the breach 53 and the
sleeve 51. The sliding way 54 is provided with a damper 541 near
the sleeve 51. A limitator 55 is fixed with screw 56 on the damper
541 nearby the breach 53. A guide slot 551 is formed at the bottom
of the limitator 55 to form a guide hole when the guide slot 551
and the guide way 54 are mated. Two stopper plates 56 are provided
on the bottom side of the upper housing 5 at two sides of the
sleeve 51 facing with each other. A recessed slot 57 is formed on
the upper housing 5 at the distant side of the slide way 54. The
three stage controlling marks "energized (ON)", "de-energized
(OFF)", and "disconnected (OPEN)" are labeled on the top edge of
the sleeve 51. The latch 9 composed of a latch pin 91 and a L
shaped stopper 92 is installed in the slide way 54 with its end
stop block 911 clogged in a trap slot 921 of the stopper 92 so as
to conjoin the latch 91 with the stopper 92 such that the stopper
92 can mate firmly with the damper 541 of the slide way 92 and the
latch pin 91 can be inserted into the guide slot 551 of the
limitator 55 to face against the breach 53 of the upper housing 5.
A compressed spring 6 is wound around the latch pin 91 with its one
end fixed to the stopper 92 and the other end impressing the wall
surface of the limitator 55.
The controller 1 is composed of a key bolt 11, an opening member
19, a set sleeve 13, and a base box 14.
The key bolt 11, configurated in a pentagonal shape, has a stage
portion 112 at its front end, and two guide grooves 111a, 111b,
respectively formed at its middle and lower sections thereof. The
middle set groove 111a is equipped with a C-ring 18a. The key bolt
11 has a screw hole 113 at its bottom and a collar 12 encircled
around it. The bottom surface of the collar 12 is mated to the
stage portion 112 so that it can not slip out of the top of the key
bolt 11. A coil spring 15 is wound around the key bolt 11 with its
one end fixed to the top edge of the color 12. When the key bolt 11
is inserted into the sleeve 51 of the upper housing 5 and pierces
out of a bottom hole 511 of the set sleeve 51 along the guide
groove 111b such that the key bolt 11 is fixed stationally in the
sleeve 51 by another C-ring 18b encircled around the guide groove
111b. At this time, the other end of the spring 15 impresses the
bottom surface of the sleeve 51 so as to support tightly the collar
12 and keep flush with the top surfaces of the sleeve 51 and the
key bolt 11.
The switching member 19 is fitted on the key bolt 11 to turn the
latter.
The set sleeve 13 has a protrusion 136 at one end, and a block 137
at the other end. An accommodation slot 135 of the set sleeve 13 is
provided with a pentagonal clogging groove 132 on its bottom
thereof An ellipsoidal cap nut 131 is extended out of the port of
the accommodation slot 135. A tapered controlling pillar 133 is
stretched downwards the bottom of the set sleeve 13 and has a
through hole 134 formed at its center to communicate with the
accommodation slot 135 and the clogging groove 132. Furthermore,
the controlling pillar 133 has a recessed portion 1331 formed at
one side of the pillar 133. A flipper 1332 is formed at each of the
two sides of the recessed portion 1331. The set sleeve 13 is
conjoined to the bottom of the upper housing 5 so that the
accommodation slot thereof is able to cover the bottom end of the
sleeve 51 formed with the upper housing 5. With this structure,
when the key bolt 11 is put into the accommodation slot 135 in the
set sleeve 13 and the bottom end of the key bolt 11 is retained in
the clogging groove 132 so as to align the bottom tapped hole 113
of the key bolt 11 to the through hole 134 of the controlling
pillar 133, the set sleeve 13 can be engaged with the key bolt 11
with a fastening screw 16 and able to rotate together with the key
bolt 11 the major axis fringes of the ellipsoidal cap nut 131 is
able to mate with the L shaped stopper 92 of the latch 9 so that
the latch 9 can reciprocate by turning motion of the cap nut
131.
The base box 14 is essentially composed of a hollow housing 141 and
a lid 142. The hollow housing 141 is provided with an opening 1411
at its top surface whereas a change over switch is installed at its
one side. The change over switch includes a first and a second
conductor blades 143 and 144 fastened at one side of the hollow
housing 141 with both of their rear terminals exposed out of the
hollow housing 141. The front end of the first conductor blade 143
is laid horizontally, on the other hand, the second one 144 is
tilted, but normally the two blades 143 and 144 are not in contact
with each other. An approximately triangular shaped stop block 1441
is formed at the center portion of the second conductor blade 144.
The hollow housing 141 is sealed with the lid 142 using a fastening
screw 17 from the bottom of the housing 141 thereof.
The set sleeve 13 is put into the base box 14 through the opening
1441 of the base box 14 so as to settle the set sleeve 13 such that
the recessed portion 1331 of the controlling pillar 133 stretched
from the bottom of the set sleeve 13 is faced to the stop block
1441 of the second conductor blade 144.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3A, 3B, the exploded and assembly views of
the structure of the present invention wherein a lower housing 2, a
plug with extension cords 3, a siamese twin plug and socket
connector 4, an upper housing 5, a latch 9 and an enclosure 7 are
shown.
The lower housing 2 has a first, a second, and a third
accommodation spaces 21, 22, and 23. Wherein a hinged block 24 with
a through hole 241 is formed at one side of the second and third
accommodation spaces 22 and 23. A base box 14 of the controller 1
is fixed in the first accommodation space 21. The set sleeve 13 is
settled in the base box 14 through an opening 1441 by enclosing the
first accommodation space 21 with the upper housing 5 together with
the assembled key bolt 11 and the latch 9 so as to aging the
recessed portion 1331 of the controlling pillar 133 to the central
stop block 1441 of the second conductor blade 144. The third
accommodation space is prepared for placing a power input plug 8 of
the electrical appliance and has detention means 231 to hold the
power input plug 8 so that it is assured not to be pulled away from
the siamese twin plug and socket connector 4 accidentally.
The plug with extension cords 3 is provided with a source side plug
31 at the front side and a live wire 32 and a grounding wire 33
extended from the rear side the rear portion of the plug with
extension cords 3 is placed in the first accommodation space 21 of
the lower housing 2 distantly apart from the second accommodation
space 22 with its live wire 32 connected to the terminal of the
first conductor blade 143 of the controller 1.
The siamese twin plug and socket connector 4 has at least a live
terminal 41 and a grounding terminal 42 extended from its rear end,
while the front portion of the connector 4 is formed into a source
side socket 43. The plug and socket connector 4 is disposed in the
second accommodation space 22 of the lower housing 2. The source
side socket 43 is facing to the third accommodation space 23 to
accept insertion of the power input plug 8 of the load side
electrical appliance. Unless the live terminal 41 of the plug and
socket connector 4 is connected to the terminal of the second
conductor blade 144 of the controller 1 and the grounding terminal
42 is connected to the grounding wire 33 of the plug with extension
cords 3 so as to bring the first and the second conductor blades
143 and 144 in the controller 1 to mutually in contact with each
other, the plug with extension cords 3 will not be able to feed
power to the plug and socket connector 4.
The enclosure 7 has a through hole 71 opened at its end portion to
admit passing the cords 81 of the electrical appliance at load
side. An insertion hole 72 is provided on the front top surface of
the enclosure 7. An indentation 73 with a hinge hole 731 formed at
each of the two sides is provided at one side of the enclosure 7.
By covering the enclosure 7 on the second and third accommodation
spaces 22, 23 of the lower box 2 and inlaying the hinged block 24
in the indentation 73 and aligning the through hole 241 of the
hinged block 24 to both hinge holes 731 so as to pierce a hinge
pine 74 there through and hinge the enclosure 7 to one side of the
lower box 2 thereby enabling the enclosure 7 to turn on the lower
box 2 about the hinge pin 74, whereas the insertion hole 72 of the
enclosure 7 is aligned to and communicated with the opening 511 of
the upper housing 5. By so the latch pin 92 is able to pass through
the insertion hole 72 and latch the enclosure 7 so as to fix the
enclosure 7 tightly covering the second and third accommodation
spaces of the lower housing 2.
Hereinafter, the three stage control mode disclosed by the present
invention will be depicted in conjunction with FIG. 4A through FIG.
6B. Before operation, a switching member 19 (key) should be
inserted into the key bolt 11 of the controller 1. To understand
the first stage control mode, reference should be made to FIGS. 4A
and 4B in which the operational procedures in this stage are
illustrated. The switching member 19 inserted into the key bolt 11
pushes down the collar 12 so as to cause the compressed spring 15
produce an elastic force and enable the controller 1 to operate. Of
course the collar 12 will return to its initial location by the
restoring force of the spring 15 as soon as the switching member 19
is taken off. The first stage operation is shown as in FIGS. 4A and
4B. By turning the key bolt 11 with the switching member 19 to
"OFF" mark on the upper housing 5 so as to bring the protrusion 136
of the set sleeve 13 to mate with one of the stopper plates 56 of
the upper housing 5. By so, being pushed by one of the major axis
edge of the ellipsoidal cap nut 131, the latch pin 91 will be
pushed into the breach 53 of the upper housing 5 and the insertion
hole 72 of the enclosure 7 to lock the enclosure 7 in irremovable
stage, and the compressed spring 6 is in compressed stage. At this
instant the one of the flipper 1332 formed on the recessed portion
1331 of the controlling pillar 133 is mating the stock block 1441
of the second conductor blade 144 which causes the second conductor
blade 144 could not be pressed downwards to contact the first
conductor blade 143 and hence the plug and socket connector 4 could
not get power supply and is in "de-energized" stage. In this state
the power input plug 8 of the load side electrical appliance is
also unable to be separated and could not be remove to other power
source. In this first stage control mode the enclosure 7 could not
be removed either.
To understand the second stage control mode, reference should be
made to FIGS. 5A and 5B in which the operational procedures in this
stage are illustrated. The switching member 19 inserted into the
key bolt 11 is turned to mark "ON" on the upper housing 5 so as to
bring the protrusion 136 to mate with another stopper plate so as
to turn the controlling pillar 133 of the set sleeve 13 a certain
angle that liberates the stop block 1441 of the second conductor
blade 144 from the detention of the recessed portion 1331 of the
controlling pillar 133 and causes the stop block 1441 to contact
the pillar 133. In this case the second conductor blade 144 is
pressed down to contact the first conductor blade 143 and bring the
power to energize the plug and socket connector 4 therefore the
electrical appliance at load side can be fed. At this instant the
other protruded fringe of the ellipsoidal cap nut 131 pushes the
latch pin 9 forwards to advance a certain distance so as to insert
its latch pin 91 into the breach 53 and the insertion hole 72 of
the enclosure 7. At this moment the compressed spring 6 is in
compressed stage so that the enclosure 7 could not be taken off,
then the plug and socket connector 4 is in "energized" stage.
To understand the third stage control mode, reference should be
made to FIGS. 6A and 6b in which the operation al procedures in
this stage are illustrated. The switching member 19 inserted into
the key bolt 11 is turned to mark "OPEN" on the upper housing 5 so
as to bring the block 137 of the set sleeve 13 to confined in the
recessed slot 57 of the upper housing 5, the controlling pillar 133
further advances such that the stop block 1441 is clogged in the
recessed portion 1331 and contracts the other side flipper 1332. By
so the first and the second conductor blades 143 and 144 are
separated each other and the power supply could not reach the plug
and socket connector 4. At this instant the latch 9 is loosely in
contact with the minor axis fringe of the ellipsoidal cap nut 131
so that its can return to its initial position with the restoring
force of the compressed spring 6 fitted on it. Since the latch pin
91 is also released from the insertion hole 721 of the enclosure 7,
the enclosure 7 can be lifted to allow putting in or taking out the
power input plug 8 from the second accommodation space 22 of the
lower housing 2. Accordingly, in the third stage controlling mode,
the power supply to the plug and socket connector 4 is completely
disconnected.
The three stage controlling mode described above is only one
preferred embodiment of the present invention provided for purpose
of reference and explanation, and shall not be construed as
limitations applicable to the invention herein.
It emerges from the above description that the socket power supply
control structure of the present invention has several distinct
advantages compared with any conventional outlet, namely:
1. The operation of the controller is carried out with a simple
switching key.
2. The ingeniously designed three stage controlling mode allows the
use of the outlet conveniently and securely.
3. It is widely applicable to many electrical appliances so as to
protect the children's health of eyes and physical security.
Many changes and modification in the above described embodiment of
the invention can of course, be carried out without departing form
the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science
and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to
be limited only be3 the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *